Q&A: What Is the Nuclear Option?

Amid talk of a potential change in Senate rules to allow the president’s nominees to advance with just a 51-vote majority, we explain the so-called nuclear option.

What is the nuclear option?

The “nuclear option” refers to a move by the majority party in Senate — in this case the Democrats — to change the Senate rules to allow most executive branch and judicial nominations to be approved with a simple majority – 51 votes — rather than the 60 votes now required. Under the current rules, the minority party can block a nomination with just 41 votes, commonly called a filibuster…

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